Regulated hoist.



UPPER G. F. STBEDMAN.

REGULATED HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 4. 1905.

PATENTED JAN, 8, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

G. .F. STEEDMAN.

REGULATED HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.4,1905.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q H n\ a a I v 616 orge i i'e 608m,

'G. P. STEEDMAN.

REGULATED HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED DEOA, 1905.

UPPER LQWE R wi'n/esses:

LOAD

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I U 61 f EX SUPPLY lkvenfaf: eai'yezfiieedm v,

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

GEORGE F. STEEDMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

REGULATED'HQIST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1907.

Application filed December 4, 1905. I Serial No- 290,179.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. STEEDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a-certain new and useful Im rovement in Regulated Hoists, of which the ollowing is a full, clear, and ex-, act description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain's to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom anying drawings, forming part of this spec' cation, in which.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a single-acting hoist embodying my'invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a balanced hoist'embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a double-acting hoist. Fig. 4 is "a cross-sectional view through the regulatin casing. Fig. 51s a cross-sectional view on t e line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig.

8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the cylinder and the appurtenances cooperating therewith.

This invention relates to fluid-actuated hoistsin which a cylinder is em loyed for containing a piston to be actuate by a suitable fluid, preferably air.

The object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the speeds of hoisting and lowering in fluid-actuated piston-hoists can be adjusted and controlled independently of the usual operating-valve.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in providing a cylinder, a piston therein, a pi e or tubular connection etween the cylind dr 1 and source of fluid-sipply, the tubular connection being divide into branches having check-valves openingl in opposite directions independent upon w an exhaust or supply, and means for regulating the sizes of the openings in the branches 2 to govern the supply and exhaust openings from the cylinder.

As illustrating the principle of my invention I have shown in Fig. 1- a cylinder 1, having contained therein a piston with an outwardly-projecting stem 2. A supply-tube 3 has in its path a three-way valve 4, which may be turned, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to direct a flow of fluid, such as air, into one end of the cylinder through the ini let-tube 5 or may be turned, as indicated in l ether the conductor is.

. full lines in Fig. 1, to exhaust from the end of the cylinder. Communication may be had between the tubes or pipes 3 and 5 through conductor branches 6 and 7 in a loop interposed between the tubes 3 and 5. The ranch 7 is provided with a check-valve 8 of ordinary construction and so arranged that it is capable of opening only to admit the air into the tube 5 by flowing in the direction indicated by the arrow. A similar but oppositely-opening check-valve 9 is arran ed in the branch 6, and this check-valve is a apted to open only when the fluid flows in the direction indicated by the arrow adjacent to the valve 9 and out throu h the exhaust, as Will be resently explained. 10 and 11 indicate coc s in the respective branches 7 and 6, which may be manipulated'so as to regulate the size of either of the openings in both of the branches 6 and 7 ,so as to control the amount of air flowing therethrough. In the end of the cylinder opposite the tube 5 is a ported tube 12, having an inwardly-openin check-valve 13 therein, and in the same end of the cylinder is illustrated a valved tube 14.

illustrated in Fig. 1 is as follows: Suppose the valve 4] is turned to admit air through the branch 7, through the tube 5, and then into the cylinder. The air cannot pass through the branch 6, for the reason that the checkvalve 9Wou1d prevent it; but it must pass through the branch 7 into the tube 5 and into the cylinder, so as to actuate the piston within the cylinder to move it from the end adjacent the tube 5 toward the o posite end.

The spe'edof hoisting or inwar motion of the iston will depend'upon' the loadto be lifted and the size of opening of valves 10 and 14. For the maximum load on piston-rod 2 the valve 10 will be adjusted so as to give proper speed, the valve 14 meantime being full '0 en.

For the minimum load on rod 2 the a justment of valve 10 being unchanged, the s eed of hoist is regulated by the valve 14. y a harmonious adjustment of valves Ioo 10 and 14 the speed of hoisting is made aproximately uniform irrespective of load. It is understood that in the operation the checkvalves 9 and 13 cause the tubes 6 and 12 to be temporarily inoperative, "also that valve 4 is in wide-o en admitting position. 5 It will be assumed t at the cylinder is arranged in a vertical plane and that the operation just described has resulted in raising the piston.

Now suppose it is desired to lower the piston or to permit it to descend. The valve 4 will be operated so that its port will register with the exhaust-port 16 in its casing and the tube 5, through the branch 6, through vacuum bein the piston an the opposite end of the cylin- 25v (1 the valve-plug, and then exhaust to atmosphere. will be under the control of the operator, not by the valve 4, but through the medium of the regulating-cock 11, which maybe so adjusted as to permit the requisite amount of air to escape therethrough. That the piston will have a tendency to descend by gravity will be obvious, as the check-valve 13 in the tube 12 will open inwardly and prevent a formed between one face of In the form of hoist just described, which I desi nate as single-acting, the actuating flui enters the lower or piston-rod end of the cylinder only. Y

From the foregoin description it will be seen that in general regulate the speed of hoisting and lowerin the variable load by providin an adjusta le force resisted by an adjustab e resistance thereto, which in prac-- tice I have found to produce re lation which is more effective than the re ation of either the force or the resistance separately.

In Fig. 21 have illustrated what I designate as a balanced, hoist. In this form two supply-tubes (designated by the 'numerals'5 and 5) are employed, one for each end, and these sup ly pipes or tubes 5 and 5 are provided with t e same appurtenances as the tube 5. (IllustratedinFig. 1.) It iscontemplated to have the tube 3 in communication with a reservolr or tank under a pressure. In the form illustrated in-Fig. 2 the piston may be raisedby admitting air into the cylinder through the lower tube 5, connected to the lower loop, which is designated as L. The s eed of travel of the iston will I be governed y the adjustment 0 the regulating exhaust-cock in the upper loo signated by the letter U,) the exhaust branch in the u per loop performing the same function as t e tubes 12 and 14 in Fig. 1. When the piston has reached the'limit of its stroke and it IS desired to permit the iston to descend, the valve 4 "Will be move into the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit the air to enter from the tube 3 through the tube 3* into the valve-casing, through the tube'3 through the branch of the loop U, and into the cylinder through the tube'SF. In this position of the'valve a uniform pressure will- The descending speed of the piston be reached in the cylinder on both sides of the valve. However, the area of the upper face of the piston a amst which the .pressure will be exerted'wilI be slightly in excess of the resisting area of the lower face of the piston, due to the fact that the piston-rod is connected to the lower face of the iston. In other words, the resisting area 0 the upper face of the piston will be equal to the resisting area of the lower face of the piston plus the cross sectional. area of the piston-rod. It therefore follows that if the same pressure exists in the cylinder onboth sides of the piston and a greater area of resistance exists on the upper 'faceo-f the piston the tendency of the piston will be to descend, even when no load is carried by the rod, and this tendency to descend will be augmented by the weight of the rod, and additionally so by any weight carried by the rod. The descending speed of the piston may be governed by adjusting the regulating-cock, (designated by the letter O in the L and 0 in the loop U.) Therefore. it wil be obvious that the speed of the piston in either direction will be controlled by adjustin the regulating-cocks to govern the inlet an exhaust irrespective of the opening of the valve 4.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the invention as being adapted to be applied to a doubleactin hoist, the same generic principles beingfo lowed in this form as are utilized in the forms illustrated in Fi 1 and 2. Inthis form I have illustrate the supply and exhaust tubes as being intersected intermediate their ends by a regulating device comprising a box or casing containing inwardly and outwardly o enin check-valves, the details of construction 0 5 this box being illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive. In this form the-supply-tube 3 is in communication with a reservoir or other source oftsupply and also in communication with a valve-casing 17" 05a four-we valve 17, as illustrated. It will be assume that the air is entering throu h the tube .3 into the valve-casing, throng?! the port 18 into the pipe 19, and through t e side of the regulating device L, thence through the tube 5 into-the lower end of the cylinder 1, so as to raise the piston. The ascending s eed of the piston will be governed by the egree or size of the opening permitted by the valve on the'side 0 oi the regulating device U at the upper end of the cylinder and the admission-valve I of the regulating-device L at the lower end. When the piston has reached the limit of its upper or inner stroke and it is desired to lower it, the valve 17. will be turned so as to bring the port 18 into communication with the tubes 3 and 19 and the port 18 of the'valve into communication with the tube 19 and the exhaust-port 20, as shown in dotted lines. The pressure will then be relieved from the lower face of T the piston and applied to the upper face vice illustrated in Figs.

- pending portion of the thereof, the descend' speed be governed by controlling the v sllg e in the s iife O of the regulating device L and the valve I of the regulating devic'e U, so as to govern the exhaust through the tube 19 and through the exhaust-port 20 in the valve-casing 17,

A convenient formof regulating device is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, and-said regulating device may be conveniently substituted for the loops illustrated in both Figs. 1 and 2, the same generic principle being followed out in each case. The regulating de- 4 to 9 is shown as comprising a casing 21, having diarn etricall oppositelylocated openings 22 and 23, which are adapted to alternately become inlet and outlet openings. In one case the opening 22 will be the inlet-opening to the casingfor example, when the fluid is entering the casing to actuate the piston"and in the other case, as when the fluid is entering the 0 ening 23'as an exhaust, the opening 22 wil become the outlet-opening. The casing is divided into two chambers 24 and 25, which are sup ly and exhaust chambers at all times, tl iese chambers being divided by the intersecting. diagonal partitions 26 and 27 and the horizontal [partitions 28 and 29 in the chambers 24 an 25, respectively. The horizontal partitions are provided with valve-seats 30 and 31 for the reception of the upwardly-movable check-valves 32 and 33, normally held on their seats by coil-springs 34 and 35 and limited in the opemng motion by the adjustin -screws 38 and 39, each of which may be a justed independently of the other to control the extent of opening movement of its respective check-valve, so asto regulate the size of opening through the va ve-seat, and thereby govern the exhaust or supply, as the case may be. These regulating devices may be secured in their adjusted positions by the lock-nuts 40 and 41, threaded on said screws and constituting parts of the stufiing-boxes surrounding them.

In order that the specific o erations of the parts within the regulating evices maybe understood, it will be assumed that the easing 21 is properly connected to the tube 19 and it is desired to turn through said casing. The air would enter through the opening 22, and owing to the de- 27 on the 0 side of the casing the air would have to pass to the I side, so as to raise the valve 32 and pass out from the top of the horizontal partition throu h the opening 23 and into the cylinder.. en the time came to exhaust, the operation would be reversedthat is to say, the air would enter through the opening 23 and'being retarded against actuating the valve, 32 on account of the depending portion of the horizontal partition a partition 26 it would have to enter beneath lator L. Next on the supply 7 horizontal partition djacent to the opening22 and the vertical the valve 33 and up through the opening through the seat 31. er passing u through the opening the air will be permitte to 1pass out through the opening 22. Thus it Wi be apparent that these valves must operate in ependently of each other and that when one is being raised from its seat the other is closed. The springs utilized in this casing are merely for returning the valves to their seats, so as to insure their being seated each time after being raised. The ease with which the screws may be manipulated and their nicety of adjustment will. permit the exhaust and supply openings to be so-controlled that the s eed of the piston may be regulated to any esireddegree.

To further illustrate the method of controllin the speeds, I show, Fig. 10, a doubleacting oist suspended in a vertical osition. To make the speed adjustments; would proceed as follows: All the adjusting-screws over the check-valves are run out to give full travel to check-valves. The full load is attached to the piston-rod, the air is exhausted, from the upper head by valve 17, and speed of hoist limited by adjusting-valve I in reguspeed of hoisting of empty hook re lated by adjusting-valve O in regulator I next regulate the speed of lowering the empty hook b adjusting the valve I in regulator U, and lastly I regulate the speed of lowering the full load by adjusting the valve 0 in regulator'L. When these adjustments are once made, all loads from maximum to minimum can be raised or lowered at approximately uniform speed irrespective of an regulation by means of valve 17.

n describing .the above invention I have referred to the c linders as being of the vertical type in which the piston has an. ascending and descending movement. However, I reserve the right to arrange the cylinders horizontally or at any other angle, if desired, and wherever the terms vertical, ascending, or descending are employed I would have it understood that they are not to be construed literally, but merely for the sake of distinguishing one movement from the other.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1'. The combination of a cylinder, a piston therein, an operating-valve, a tubular connection between the valve and'the cylinder, said tubular connection being divided into connecting-passages, and means for cutting ofl communication between thecylinder and valve in one of the passages when the other passage is open; substantially as described.

2. The combination of a cylinder, a plston therein, an operating-valve, a tubular connection between the valve and the cylinder, said tubular' connectionsrbeing divided into connecting-passages, and means for autothe load is removed and nection between the valve and the'cylinder,

said tubular connection being divided into connecting-passages, and oppositely-o ening check-valves in the said passages; su stantially as described.

4. The combinatlon of a cylinder, a piston therein, an operatingvalve, a tubular connection between the valve and the cylinder, said tubular connection havin independent connecting-ports, and means or regulating the size of each port; substantially as described.

5. The combination of a cylinder, 8. piston therein, an operating-valve, a tubular connection between the valve and the cylinder, said tubular connection being divided into independent connecting-pass ages, oppositelyopening check-valves 1n the respective passages, and means for refiulati'ng the size of each passage; substantia y as described 6. The combination of a cylinder, a pis h.

therein, an operating-valves tubular connection between the valve and the cylinder, said tubular connection being divided into separate branches, one of which is a supply to the cylinder and the other an exhaust, means if'or automatically closing-one branch when the other is opened, and means for regulating the size of the port in each branch; substantially as described.

7 The combination oia cylinder, a piston therein, an operating-valve, a'tubular connection between the valve and the cylinder, said tubular connection being divided into separate branches, one of which is a supply to the cylinder and the other an exhaust, means for automatically closing one branch when the other is opening, and means for regulating the size of the ort in the'exhaust branch; substantially as described.

8.. The combination of a cylinder, a piston therein, an operating-valve, a tubular connection between the valve and the cylinder,

said tubular connection being divided into separate branches, one of which'is a supply. to the cylinder and the other an exhaust,

means for automatically closing one branch when the other is o ening, and means for regulating the size 0 the ort in the'supply branch; substantiall as escribed.

,9. A regulating evice of the class .described, having two portsadapted to alternatel receive and discharge afiuid, said device avin independent interior 0 enin s, one for eac port and each separate om t e other port substantially as described.

10. A regulating device of the class described/com arising tubular portions, and valved branc es intermediate the tubular teriorly divi .ti-ally as described.

portions and, having 'oppositel -opening' oheck-valves therein; substantia ly as described.

11. A regulating device of the class 'de scribed, comprising tubular portions, incased valve-seats intermediate the tubular portions, each tubular ortion having a valveseat common to itse f, and valves in the seats each of which is ada ted to open when the other is closed; su stantially as described. I

12. A regulating device of the class'described, comprising a structure divided into connecting-passages, and oppositely-opening check-valves in said passages; substantially as described. I

13. A regulating device of the class described, comprising a structure having inlet and outlet orts, said structure being inded into passages se arate from each other but each connecting t e inlet and outlet ports, and oppositely-openingcheckvalves in said passages to alternatelyropen communication between said ports t ough one passage and close communication, between said ports through the other passage; substantially as described.

14. A regulating device of the class described, comprising a structure having inlet and outlet ports, said structure being interiorly. divi ed into passages, se arate from each other but each connecting t e inlet and outlet orts,oppositely-openin check-valves in sai passages to alternate y open communication between said ports through one passage .and close communication between said ports through the other passage, and

means for regulating the degree of communication between .the said passages; substan- 15. Ina device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, of, a piston therein, a ported connection at the upper end of the cylinder, atubular port in communication with the lower end of the cylinder, divided branches in each, of said tubular ports, and means for cutting off communication between the cylinder arid its source of supply; substantially as described. r

16. In'a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston therein, means for regulating the active fluidpressure on oneside of the piston, and ad- 1ustable means for regulating the resisting fluid-pressure on the opposite side of the piston; substantially as described.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, and a piston therein, of automatically-operating means for re lating the active fluid-pressure, on one si e of the piston, and means for regulating a resisting fluidressure on the-opposite s) e of the piston; su stantially as described; 18. In a device of the class described, the combination with ,a cylinder and a piston therein, of a fluid-supply tube having an operating-valve, means lndependent of the operating-valve for regulating the active fluidressure on one side of the piston, and means 20. In a device ofthe class described, the

combination with a cylinder, having a piston therein, of tubular ported parts at o posite ends of the cylinder, an'o crating-valve, an adjustable means indepen ent of the operating-valve for simultaneously regulating the flow of fluid into one end of the cylinder and the egress of the fluid from the o posite end of'the cylinder;,substantially as described.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, a piston therein, and ported parts at opposite ends ofthe cylinder, of an operating-valve, and automatically-operating means independent of the operating-valve for simultaneously regulating the flow of fluid into one end of the cylinder and egress of the fluid from the other end of the cylinder; substantiallyas described.

22. In a, device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder and a piston therein, of ports at opposite ends of the cylinder, an operating-valve, and'means independent of the operating-valve for simultaneously regulating the flow of fluid into one end of the cylinder and the e ess of the fluid from the other end of the cy inder; substantially as described.

23,. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston therein, ports at opposite ends of'the cylinder, and regulating devices in communication with said ports, said regulating devices comprising tubular portions and valved branches mtermediate the tubular ortions and having oppositely-movable chec valves therein; substantially as described.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder, a piston therein, of ported arts at opposite ends of the cylinder, regu ating. devices communicating with said ported parts, one of said regulating devices comprising a structure divided into connecting-passages, and oppositely-opening check-valves in said passages; substantially as described.

25. In a regulating device, a casing with two connecting-passages, check-valves, seated in said passages and arranged to permit piston; substantially ed in said the flow of fluid in one direction only through each of said passages; substantially as described.

26. In aregulating device, a casing with two connecting-passages, check-valves seatassages and arranged to permit the flow of fluid in one direction only through each of said assages, and adjusting-screws on said checl valves to limit the o ening movement of said check-valves; su stantially as described;

27. The combination with a cylinder, of a piston therein, a tubular ort at the upper end of the cylinder, a tubular port at the lower end of the cylinder, and regulating devices comprising incased valve-seats intermediate the ends of the tubular ports, each tubular port having a valve-seat common to itself, and valves in the seats, each of which is adapted to open when the other is closed; substantially as described.

28. The combination with a cylinder, of a piston therein, a tubular ort at the upper end of the cylinder, a tu ular port at the lower end of the cylinder, and a regulating device communicating with one of the tubular ports and having ports ada ted to alternately receive and discharge uid, said device having independent interior 0 enin s, one for eachport and each separate i om t e other port; substantially as described.

29. The combination with a cylinder, of a piston therein, and pressure-regulating devices communicating with opposite ends of the cylinder, each pressure-regulatmg device comprising a structure having inlet and outlet ports, said structure being interiorly divided into passages separate from each other but each connecting the inlet and outlet ports, oppositely opening check valves in said passages to alternately open communication between said ports through one passage and close communication between said ports through the other passage, and means or regulating the degree of communication between said passages; substantially as described.

30. In a regulating device of the character described, a casing having a port permitting only admission of air to the cylinder, a port permitting only the exhaust of air from the cylinder, and a means for regulating independently the effective areas of said ports; I

substantially as described.

31. The combination with a cylinder having an admissionort and an exhaust-port communicating w th its opposite ends, of a piston therein, an operating-valve, means or regulating the area of the admission-port to one end of the cylinder, and independent means for regulating the area of the exhaustport-from the opposite end of the cylinder;

substantially as described.

32. The combination of a cylinder with piston therein, of an operating valve, and

communicating with each end of the cylinder; substantially as described.

33. The combination of a cylinder andpiston therein, an operating-valve, a means independent of-the operating-valve for throttling the admission of air to one end of the cylinder, and a means independent of the operating-valve for throttlin air from the other end of t e cylinder; substantially as described. a

34. The combination of a cylinder and a piston therein, of an operatlntg-valve, a reguatable means independent 0 the operatingvalve for throttl-in the admission of air to one end of the cy inder, and a regulatable the exhaust of a means independent of the o crating-valve for throttlin -the exhaust of air from the other end 0 the cylinder;substantially as described. 35. In a regulating device of the character described, acasing with an exhaust-opening, and an admission-opening, and independent means for regulating each of said openings; substantially as described. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature,'in the presence of two witnesses;

this 21st day of November, 1905.

v GEORGE E STEEDMAN;

Witnesses:

HARRY A. HEPER, T. R. CLARKSON. 

